Previously on “A night in Penang”: Stephanie Lung and her friends Felicity the Flamingo, Tokek, the gecko and Sock the Gremlin are off in the Penang night to free Felicity’s friends who’ve been captured by animal smugglers. Stewart the seagull was telling Stephanie and Felicity: “I have good news and bad news. Let’s start with…
Previously on “A night in Penang”: Stephanie Lung and her friends Felicity the Flamingo, Tokek the gecko and Sock the Gremlin are off in the Penang night to free Felicity’s friends who’ve been captured by animal smugglers. If you haven’t read part 1, click here: They gently cracked open the front door and eased themselves…
A Stephanie Lung adventure by Brian Martin-Onraët Illustrated by Tiffany Choong “They will die if we do nothing,” Felicity said, pacing on the crazy pavement by the pool. “Felicity, tokek,” Gary said, “please stop pacing, tokek, you’re driving me crazy, tokek.” “Gary,” Felicity said, “stop with your tokek, it is driving ME crazy.” “Sorry, Fel’,…
Introduction I’ve lived in or travelled to more than 40 countries, over most continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas. Developed and ‘emerging’ countries. (Though the word ‘emerging’ I find misleading.) I’ve lived in all shades of political governance. From democracies to dictatorships. In those days when America is moving fast towards authoritarianism, where the Rule…
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday condemned President Donald Trump’s unilateral military action against Venezuela as illegal and unconstitutional, warning that it violates international law, endangers global security and usurps Congress’ exclusive authority to declare war. Sanders called on Congress to immediately pass a War Powers resolution to end the operation.…
An African Childhood Movie I had a house by the African sea. My little sister and I were little “Princes of tides.” Nothing but the sea stood between us the horizon. Every morning would be different. High tide? Low tide? Dolphins? Magic boats? African fishing boats sailed past. No engines then. Just a single so-called…
Le Pont des Arts. The Bridge of the Arts. Paris. Botero Square. Medellín. Colombia. West 42nd, New York. Right by the New York Public Library, where I set up my “office”, end of ’79. In a phone booth downstairs. There was a place to sit, a shelf to put my phone numbers, I had a…
A Time Patrol movie We lived in Cambodia in 1956-57. My father ran the newly formed national airline, Royal Air Cambodge. My mother being the boss’s wife had certain privileges such as shooting her 8mm movies from the pilot’s cabin. Planes were DC3’s. Twin propeller engines. Flying off over the Tonle-Sap, a tributary of the…
Banteay Kdei Temple, Angkor Banteay Kdei is a pretty little temple in the Angkor complex in Cambodia. Built in the 12th-13th century AD, one its main features is a “Hall of Dancers”. Cambodian traditional dancing is inspired by Indian dances with very elaborate movements of legs, hands and feet. Apsara dancer at the Apsara Theatre…
A Time-Patrol Movie In 1936, Hemingway published his short story “The snows of Kilimanjaro”, based on a personal experience he’d had in East Africa in 1934. In 1968, a mere 30 years later, we were living in Kenya. Of course we went to Kilimanjaro. On the way there, in a place called Sultan Hamud, we…
A Story of Allies On June 18, 1940, General Charles de Gaulle launched an appeal on the BBC to keep on fighting against the Nazis. De Gaulle and the handful of French who wanted to continue the fight were the hosts of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. (All photos were taken at…
An African Childhood “Mommy! Mommy! I finished my homework!” “Are you sure? All of it?” “Yes! Yes! I swear. Liar, liar…” “Hmm…” “Can I go swim? Can I?” “All right,” said my mother. “We’ll check your homework before lunch.” I was about eight then. We lived in West Africa, in Conakry, the capital of newly…
A Time Patrol Movie Bangkok in 1956 was a quiet city, with more tuk-tuks (left) than cars (right). We lived in Cambodia then, where my father was the General Manager (they’d say CEO now I guess) of Royal Air Cambodge, the newly formed national airline. Thailand was a major economic partner for Cambodia, so my…
Mexico has quite a unique style in doors, and knockers, mixing Spanish and Precolumbian influences. (I could easily borrow/buy that knocker. Wouldn’t you?) (Link to Dan’s page below) Doors here have to be sturdy. Borderline massive. San Angel, Mexico City. Old buildings will have patron saints or the Virgin Mary above the door. This house…
Montreal. (That’s for Dale.) ‘De guingois’. Askew. Montmartre. Have suitcase. Will travel. Brussels in Black & White. Paris. Where else? Seated Harlequin. Picasso 1901. At the Met. New York. Medellín, Colombia. Grand-Place, Brussels. Empire of the rat. Where would that be? London. (We caught ourselves COVID in the Imperial city on that trip.) New Yawk…
Equinoxio 